King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Chapters: II Samuel Chapters 13-14
Message: When Guilt Controls Faith
Hello My Friend,
I spent a good half hour praying that God would forgive me of my sins followed by the plea to help my family because I am convinced that all the problems that I and my family are facing is all my fault. I know that no chastening from God is joyous and always follows a newfound connection with God along with a new purpose, [Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.] But there does come a time when the chastening is over and we need to stop chastening ourselves for things that God has already come to terms with, [1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.]
After David’s sin with Bathsheba, God, informed David that while his sin would be forgiven repercussions would follow all the way down to his family, [2 Samuel 12:11-13 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.]
So, if God had forgiven David and put away the sin from him why do you think that all of these bad things followed? First, of all, I believe that David while fully knowing that he was forgiven was still guilt ridden over this and could not face God. The second reason I believe had to do with how he handled the entire situation with Uriah in an attempt to hide his secret sin, who happened to be his neighbor. The third reason I believe had to do with the fact that he had a few sons that were not very Godly as we are about to find out. As we return to the reading of 2 Samuel we learn of Amnon and his infatuation with his half-sister Tamar.
[2 Samuel 13:1-5 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. 4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. 5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.]
[Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.] Forget about their having different mothers, this guy lusted over his own sister so badly that he thought day and night what he could do to get her. Of course, his sly friend did not help matters by encouraging him to trick her. With friends like Jonadab, who encourage sin, who needs enemies, who by the way was their cousin. This is exactly why Jesus said that our greatest foes are within our own family, [Matthew 10:35-36 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.]
Jesus, understands that when it comes to family they are often the worst to give advise to because they are not all saved and often steer Godly in the wrong direction. Well, obviously Amnon was not very Godly himself as this fool just had to have his sister so he went along with the ill advice of his friend. David, sent Tamar to minister to Amnon only things took a turn for the worse when he tried to talk her into it.
[2 Samuel 13:9-14 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. 10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. 13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. 14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.]
[for he will not withhold me from thee.] The Law states, [Leviticus 20:17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.] Tamar, did not believe that the king would allow a forbidden marriage, but she was scared and tried to reason with him. That attempt failed and he not only shamed her by forcing himself upon her his “love” for her turned to into hate now that he defiled her.
[2 Samuel 13:15-17,19-20 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. 16 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. 17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. 20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.]
[but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing.] First, of all, how was it that Absalom knew that his brother had designs on his sister to begin with and never addressed it? And second, how can one just ignore what happened? It is no wonder that Tamar hid herself at her brothers house, she was not only ashamed of what happened, she could not even say anything and that only added to her pain. Keeping something like this a secret can literally destroy a person. Ignoring things does not fix the problem, in fact, it escalates it even more. Absalom waited two years to get his retaliation, he literally had Amnon killed.
[2 Samuel 13:23-28 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. 25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? 27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.]
[But Absalom pressed him,] Do you see how Absalom was so good at convincing David to do the things that he wanted? As you can tell David favored. I image that he wondered why he was so adamant about Amnon coming to his house, and perhaps he thought that bygones were bygones and that was not the case. David, was actually led to believe that Absalom killed all of his brothers.
[2 Samuel 13:30-32,36-37 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left. 31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore. 37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.]
[for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined] Here is the one who started all this with his subtly enticing Amnon to go after Tamar telling David that this was all done because of what he did to her. I believe that it was Absalom’s intention to kill all the brothers in order to make himself next in line to the throne. Nevertheless, there is a lesson to be learned here, we cannot just ignore things that are not okay, we must address the situation before things escalate into something much worse, [1 Corinthians 5:11-13 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.]
I imagine that David felt responsible for all that was going on with his family, he could not address any of it as a proper king would since it was personal and he was still guilt ridden himself. Well, Absalom fled, for three more years, the issue did not get addresses, giving him more ammunition to desire what we really wanted, since David never addressed the situation he mourned greatly for Absalom. However, Joab came up with a plan to reunite the two only I do not believe it went as well as he had thought.
[2 Samuel 14:1-2,5-7 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead: 5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. 6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him. 7 And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.]
[the whole family is risen against thine handmaid,] It appears through the story that David’s entire household was upset with him because he did not address the entire issue. He was not mourning Absalom because he had left, it was because the entire family sought to avenge the death of Amnon. This is actually a case in which the cities of refuge would be handy, [Numbers 35:25-27 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; 27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:]
Since Absalom had already been gone for three years he could easily been brought to the king to address it according to the Law. The woman goes on to suggest that the king charge her and her house for any wrongdoing that resulted in the matter and let the king not take the blame.
[2 Samuel 14:9-11 And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house: and the king and his throne be guiltless. 10 And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more. 11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.]
[for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty,] You see, in case some wrong should be connected with the fact that the unintentional murder was not avenged, then no blame should be attached to David’s government. However, as she is addressing the king something comes to mind, the father should not be held responsible for their children’s sins. She has some difficulty in making the application to the king’s own case, because she cannot speak openly, but may only, in passing, allude to Absalom. Her implication was that on the account of the attitude David had toward Absalom at least some of the people were suffering. She goes on to suggest that he must apply the same mildness in the case of Absalom which he decided for in her own case.
[2 Samuel 14:13-4,16-17 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished. 14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. 17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.]
[neither doth God respect any person:] God, does not cut off the life of the sinner outright, but is merciful and will change the matter of His sentence in the case of a repentant sinner, [Romans 2:9-13 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.]
Joab’s, purpose in having this woman tell this story was to let David know that Absalom may have well intended to kill his brothers in order take the throne for himself. He also reminded him that what Absalom did was wrong and needed to be addressed or his own life would be in danger. Of course, Joab, had lost his respect for David with the whole incident regarding Uriah, so he was not the best person to give advice. Nevertheless, David, figured out what the message was about and told Joab to send for Absalom.
[2 Samuel 14:19-23 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: 20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. 21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant. 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.]
[To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight,] David’s forgiveness was not yet perfect, it lacked sincerity. David, comes to understand that he must address this as a king would address it, he actually sends for Absalom, but he still did not address the situation, and that only gave Absalom more ammunition to plot out what was in his heart from the beginning of all this.
[2 Samuel 14:25-28 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight. 27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance. 28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.]
[there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty:] And so the plot thickens, what better way to overthrow his father than to get the people love him. And to make matters worse, [Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.]
Do you realize what this is all about? David’s guilt. While David did seek forgiveness from God, he never forgave himself. While sin never comes without consequence, we also need to realize that the chastening received is not something that will face for the rest of our lives unless we do something drastic. You see, it is the guilt from sin that is much harder on us then the sin itself, and if we are truly one who walks with Christ, then the thought of sinning against God is so devastating that we welcome the pain. Nevertheless, this is the very pain that God uses to reconnect with us.
[2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [2 Samuel 14:17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for your mercy and grace to save a sinner like me through my faith alone in Your Son. I know that I am forgiven and I am so grateful that Your mercies are endless. I accept that while You do chasten Your children it is not permanent and always comes with a purpose. Thank You for loving me so much that You do chasten me and bring something good and joyous out of it. Lord, lead me and guide me, continue to pour Your grace upon me, let me not get into situations that would cause me to make bad decisions in the first place, but if I do get into them, show me the way to address them properly so I do not end up with more needless suffering. In all that I do, let me discern right from wrong, not in my own eyes, but Yours. And since You have already forgiven me, release from me all the guilt, shame, and pain that keeps me from forgiving myself. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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